| | '''Ayr''', lying upon the River Ayr, is the former county town of [[Ayrshire]] in [[Scotland]]. The strategic location of the town in the [[River Clyde|Clyde]] estuary, led to the construction of [[castle]]s there by both [[William the Conqueror]] and [[Oliver Cromwell]]. | | '''Ayr''', lying upon the River Ayr, is the former county town of [[Ayrshire]] in [[Scotland]]. The strategic location of the town in the [[River Clyde|Clyde]] estuary, led to the construction of [[castle]]s there by both [[William the Conqueror]] and [[Oliver Cromwell]]. |
| − | Historically, Ayr was an important port trading as far afield as Spain and America, but more recently it was the pre-eminent resort town of the Clyde estuary, ahead of [[Saltcoats]], [[Troon]], [[Largs]] and [[Rothesay]], and it remains a popular destination for excursions to this day,[http://www.ayr.org/Travel/ayr_world_class_holiday_destination.htm] especially to its historic racecourse. Ayr is also the birthplace of Scotland's national poet [[Robert Burns]] and as the centre of Burns country, draws large numbers of tourists annually. | + | Historically, Ayr was an important port trading as far afield as Spain and America, but more recently it was the pre-eminent resort town of the Clyde estuary, ahead of [[Ardrossan]], [[Saltcoats]], [[Troon]], [[Largs]] and [[Rothesay]], and it remains a popular destination for excursions to this day,[http://www.ayr.org/Travel/ayr_world_class_holiday_destination.htm] especially to its historic racecourse. Ayr is also the birthplace of Scotland's national poet [[Robert Burns]] and as the centre of Burns country, draws large numbers of tourists annually. |
| | The Airedale (or Ayrdale) [[terrier]], the largest of all terrier breeds, originates from nearby, where it was bred for the task of hunting the [[otter]]s that plagued local [[salmon]] fisheries. | | The Airedale (or Ayrdale) [[terrier]], the largest of all terrier breeds, originates from nearby, where it was bred for the task of hunting the [[otter]]s that plagued local [[salmon]] fisheries. |